When former Oklahoma County District Judge Nancy Coats-Ashley was looking for a way to make a difference with her charitable gifts, the Oklahoma City Community Foundation helped her find the perfect solution. A longtime advocate for mental health issues, Judge Coats-Ashley was instrumental in the creation of the first mental health court in the southwest United States. Through her experience with defendants who were dealing with mental illness, she recognized the need for an alternative path that could lead to treatment and rehabilitation rather than incarceration.
“The success stories of mental health court graduates are just remarkable,” Judge Coats-Ashley said. “With proper treatment, they are able to return to work and go on to live healthy, productive lives, while also reducing the burden on our criminal justice system.”
The Oklahoma City Community Foundation helped Judge Coats-Ashley further her community legacy through the creation of a donor advised fund that will permanently support causes important to her, like Legal Aid Services of Oklahoma. In addition, she used the remainder of her campaign funds to create a scholarship for graduate students studying mental health services.
Whether you are interested in creating a charitable fund to support your favorite causes, providing scholarships for students or using assets other than cash to leave a legacy, the Oklahoma City Community Foundation can help you customize the perfect solution for your giving needs. Our professional staff can help translate your values into the right type of fund to carry out your wishes and create a charitable legacy. Learn more about how the Oklahoma City Community Foundation can help you make a difference here or contact us at 405/235-5603.
First Serve OKC is one of eight recipients of the Oklahoma City Community Foundation’s Opportunities for Children iFund grants. The nonprofit received an $8,000 grant to support the Serving Up Aces school outreach program, a safe place for students to learn tennis and the life skills it teaches throughout the summer months.
The Oklahoma City Community Foundation is awarding $127,500 to help remove barriers and create opportunities for youth birth to age 14 through the Opportunities for Children iFund program.
The $127,500 was granted to eight central Oklahoma nonprofits to support projects that build school readiness, support youth living in foster care and provide recreational, social and cultural activities for youth who would not otherwise have the opportunity to participate.
First Serve OKC is one of the eight organizations that received funding from the grant program to support their multifunctional tennis program for Oklahoma City Public Schools students.
“Our Serving Up Aces program doesn’t just teach students how to play tennis, it also teaches valuable lessons on good nutrition and life skills as well as provides a safe space for students while their parents are still at work,”” said Emmy Tigert, executive director for First Serve OKC. “We are embracing the opportunity to connect with youth through this valuable program, and are grateful for the Community Foundation’s support.”
“The Community Foundation created the iFund program to provide an easy and effective way for our donors to support common needs within our community,” Oklahoma City Community Foundation President Nancy B. Anthony said. “Donors supporting the iFund program can use the Community Foundation’s expertise to make a greater impact in the community as we use the funds to support effective nonprofit programs that are helping Oklahoma City reach its full potential.”
The Oklahoma City Community Foundation awarded Opportunities for Children iFund grants to the following organizations:
Aspiring Attitudes | $10,000 to help youth with physical and/or intellectual disabilities, who would not otherwise have the opportunity, participate in a dance performance program.
Cavett Kids Foundation | $40,000 to help youth with life-threatening illnesses attend Camp Cavett, a summer camp offering recreation, character-building and connection opportunities.
Center for Youth and Families | $12,000 to support an after-school program with the Boys & Girls Club of Norman that helps at-risk youth with academic success, physical fitness and character development.
First Serve OKC | $8,000 to support the Serving Up Aces school outreach program, a safe place for students to learn tennis and the life skills it teaches throughout the summer months.
Jubilee Partners | $7,500 to support the Summer Kid’s Camp, a safe place for youth to engage in safe, fun, recreational and educational activities throughout the summer months.
Riversport Foundation | $15,000 to support the Thrive Outside OKC program that helps engage at-risk youth in outdoor activities.
Thick Descriptions | $15,000 to fund a science, technology, engineering, anthropology and math (STEAM) program that helps fill learning gaps for at-risk students during school breaks.
An initiative of the Oklahoma City Community Foundation Trustees, the iFund program utilizes gifts from donors to support services for youth and elderly, as well as provide access to health care. Since 2011, the iFund program has awarded more than $4.4 million to charitable organizations serving central Oklahoma. For more information, visit www.iFundokc.org.
